Benefit Humanity With A Single Download

A simple download is all it takes to allow the World Community Grid to make use of your processing power while your computer is just sitting around idle. It’s similar to the SETI@home project, only the World Community Grid focuses on fighting diseases.
If this kind of computing grid is new to you here’s how it works.

When idle, your computer will request data on a specific project from World Community Grid’s server. It will then perform computations on this data, send the results back to the server, and ask the server for a new piece of work. Each computation that your computer performs provides scientists with critical information that accelerates the pace of research!

I’m downloading the software now and will be joining the SEOmoz FTW! team. Hopefully you can help by doing the same (whether you join the SEOmoz team or another) and also help promote the World Community Grid by spreading the word.

2 comments

Now this is interesting! I’m curious to see whether this takes off; I just downloaded the software, and have sent the link to some friends. I would love to be able to play even a small role in something positive.

But I wonder, if this does become popular, if it will lead to more energy use and carbon emissions? I turn my PC off at night, but this presents a good reason to let it run overnight, crunching away at “Human Proteome Folding Phase 2.”

You know I had the same thought too. I usually turn my laptop off at night, but this does offer a reason for leaving it on. I think the idea though is really just to use your computer the same as you always have. Even while you’re using it there are plenty of times when the processor is idle. And there will be plenty of time when it’s on and you’re not using it at all.

I think this will be something that spreads. The SETI project has been going for awhile now. This is really the same idea, but differs in the problems it’s attempting to solve. It’s actually a good way to cut energy use since all we have to do is use our computers the same as we always have. The processing power that we give up means some super computer somewhere doesn’t need to be working as much as it would have to.

Think of it like carpooling. You’re still driving, but by having a passenger or two you end up with less carbon emissions.